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| Venezuela fire: 68 die in Carabobo police station cells | Venezuela fire: 68 die in Carabobo police station cells |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A fire at a police station in the Venezuelan city of Valencia, in Carabobo state, has left 68 people dead, government officials say. | A fire at a police station in the Venezuelan city of Valencia, in Carabobo state, has left 68 people dead, government officials say. |
| The blaze reportedly started after prisoners set fire to mattresses in an attempt to break out on Wednesday. | The blaze reportedly started after prisoners set fire to mattresses in an attempt to break out on Wednesday. |
| Police used tear gas to disperse relatives who surrounded the station after news of the fire broke. | Police used tear gas to disperse relatives who surrounded the station after news of the fire broke. |
| Chief state prosecutor Tarek Saab said an investigation into what had happened would begin immediately. | Chief state prosecutor Tarek Saab said an investigation into what had happened would begin immediately. |
| State official Jesus Santander said the situation had now been brought under control. He said the state of Carabobo was in mourning. | |
| What happened at the police station? | What happened at the police station? |
| The circumstances surrounding the fire have not been officially confirmed. | The circumstances surrounding the fire have not been officially confirmed. |
| The association Una Ventana a la Libertad (A Window on Freedom), which monitors jail conditions, said its reports showed a police officer had been shot in the leg by a detainee and that shortly afterwards mattresses in cells were set ablaze and the fire quickly spread. | The association Una Ventana a la Libertad (A Window on Freedom), which monitors jail conditions, said its reports showed a police officer had been shot in the leg by a detainee and that shortly afterwards mattresses in cells were set ablaze and the fire quickly spread. |
| Mr Santander did confirm one police officer had been shot. | Mr Santander did confirm one police officer had been shot. |
| Rescuers reportedly broke through walls to try to free those trapped by the blaze. | Rescuers reportedly broke through walls to try to free those trapped by the blaze. |
| Nearly all of those who died were inmates but at least two women who were visiting at the time were also killed, Mr Saab said. | Nearly all of those who died were inmates but at least two women who were visiting at the time were also killed, Mr Saab said. |
| Some of the victims burned to death, others died of smoke asphyxiation. | Some of the victims burned to death, others died of smoke asphyxiation. |
| What has the response been? | What has the response been? |
| Angry relatives gathered outside the detention centre and clashed with police as they sought information about loved ones. | Angry relatives gathered outside the detention centre and clashed with police as they sought information about loved ones. |
| Aida Parra, who said she had last seen her son the day before, told the Associated Press news agency: "I don't know if my son is dead or alive. They haven't told me anything." | Aida Parra, who said she had last seen her son the day before, told the Associated Press news agency: "I don't know if my son is dead or alive. They haven't told me anything." |
| Dora Blanco told local media: "I am a desperate mother. My son has been here a week. They have not given any information." | Dora Blanco told local media: "I am a desperate mother. My son has been here a week. They have not given any information." |
| The government has set up an inquiry. | The government has set up an inquiry. |
| Carabobo state governor Rafael Lacava expressed his condolences, adding: "A serious and profound investigation has been initiated to find the causes and those responsible for these regrettable events." | Carabobo state governor Rafael Lacava expressed his condolences, adding: "A serious and profound investigation has been initiated to find the causes and those responsible for these regrettable events." |
| What's the state of Venezuela's penal system? | What's the state of Venezuela's penal system? |
| Facilities are notoriously overcrowded, with violence and deadly riots common. | Facilities are notoriously overcrowded, with violence and deadly riots common. |
| The country has struggled to accommodate its prisoners amid an ongoing economic crisis, leading to the use of temporary facilities such as the one in Valencia. | The country has struggled to accommodate its prisoners amid an ongoing economic crisis, leading to the use of temporary facilities such as the one in Valencia. |
| Venezuela's worst prison tragedies: | Venezuela's worst prison tragedies: |
| August 2017: A riot in police holding cells leaves 37 dead in Amazonas state | August 2017: A riot in police holding cells leaves 37 dead in Amazonas state |
| March 2017: 14 bodies are found in a mass grave in a jail in Guarico state | March 2017: 14 bodies are found in a mass grave in a jail in Guarico state |
| September 2015: A blaze in a prison in Tocuyito prison kills 17 | September 2015: A blaze in a prison in Tocuyito prison kills 17 |
| January 2013:More than 60 inmates are killed in a prison riot in Barquisimeto | January 2013:More than 60 inmates are killed in a prison riot in Barquisimeto |
| Inmates are supposed to be held for only 48 hours in police holding cells. | Inmates are supposed to be held for only 48 hours in police holding cells. |
| Carlos Nieto, head of Una Ventana a la Libertad, says some police facilities are overfilled at five times their capacity. | Carlos Nieto, head of Una Ventana a la Libertad, says some police facilities are overfilled at five times their capacity. |
| The organisation says that 65 people died last year in temporary cells due to violence, disease or malnutrition. | The organisation says that 65 people died last year in temporary cells due to violence, disease or malnutrition. |
| Last month inmates at a different prison in Carabobo took a number of prisoners and guards hostage in another riot. | Last month inmates at a different prison in Carabobo took a number of prisoners and guards hostage in another riot. |